Photo by Esther Lin for Showtime Sports.
Former Pride and Strikeforce multi-division champ Dan Henderson has yet to be booked for a second UFC fight after beating Mauricio Rua at UFC 139. The 42-year-old Henderson is eager to get back in the cage, but only against the right opponent.
Henderson initially declined a rematch against Antonio Rodrigo Noguiera, choosing instead to wait for a title shot against either light heavyweight champ Jon Jones or middleweight champ Anderson Silva. Dana White expressed his frustration recently since Henderson is in line behind Rashad Evans and Chael Sonnen, respectively for each of those title shots.
White claimed that Henderson also turned down a LHW bout against ex-champ Lyoto Machida.
Henderson took to Twitter to contest that claim:
Was never offered machida. And even though he has lost 3 out of his last 4, I'm sure it would be entertaining. RT @Shawn91111: @danhendo Dana said this "He doesn't want to fight Machida He doesn't want to wait. He's going to have to wait. Who does he want to fight
What should Dana White and UFC matchmaker Joe Silva do with Henderson?
0 recs | 39 comments
MAKE THIS FIGHT.
jpayne - February 18, 2012 via mobile
As much as machida needs a rebound fight, I wouldn’t want to see Dan get knocked off the contenders list. This is a brutal style match up for Dan.
Armleglegarm Head - February 18, 2012 via mobile
MA-CHI-DA! MA-CHI-DA! MA-CHI-DA! MA-CHI-DA! MA-CHI-DA!
gzl5000 - February 18, 2012
this would be a fun fight
I think Hendo vs Phil Davis would be a good match also, though I think Davis would win
T.P. Grant - February 18, 2012
I disagree, Hendo wouldn’t try to fight at range like Rashad, he’d walk right through Davis’s strikes and KO him, only way Phil wins that if he lays on him ala the Shields fight.
Ak.Death - February 18, 2012
yeah I'd say Davis takes Hendo down and gasses him
maybe gets a tap in a later round if the fight is a main event but you can’t count out an H-bomb landing
T.P. Grant - February 18, 2012
not that it matters
because the UFC doesn’t pair losers with winners. Davis vs Shogun is more likely
T.P. Grant - February 18, 2012
myth
James Brady - February 18, 2012
not often anyway
T.P. Grant - February 18, 2012
I want Hendo-Rampage 2 damnit.
Ak.Death - February 18, 2012
Agreed. I like Bader okay, but Hendo vs Rampage would be more competitive (I think) and more entertaining (almost certain).
thirdparty - February 18, 2012
He should wait. Machida doesn’t deserve the fight at this point.
In My Opinion - February 18, 2012 via mobile
This is something i can't help but comment on
The way MMA-“fans” care more about the politics and virtual rankings than a good fight. One thing that the fighters do it (considering the financial aspect of it all).
As a fan though I would LOVE to see Machida and Henderson go at it because i know it’d be a good fight everyone would enjoy and the clash of styles is extremely exciting to me.
If i lost a braincell for every time i saw someone acting like discussion about MMA-rankings and politics were favored over a good scrap i’d probably be just like you.
sanfrecce - February 18, 2012
I agree with both of you guys, in a way.
I definitely love a good fight, and yes the clash of styles is interesting. But if you make fights just because they’d be entertaining you end up with Pride-style freakshows and make the sport seem somewhat illegitimate. At a time when the UFC is going more mainstream, I think it’s important it be seen as “who’s better”. It also gives the fighters a reason to win. If you’re winning all your fights but someone else gets a title shot because their style would make a more interesting fight, that could be somewhat discouraging to legitimate fighters. Just something to think about.
Also, maybe try not to be so rude to the guy?
thirdparty - February 18, 2012
I agree with you to a point, but in this case Hendo is in the twilight of his career and has a case to be given a title fight. Due to that I think the rankings should be taken into consideration. Machida is on a pretty bad streak and Dan is on the best streak of his career, I don’t think they should be paired up right now, but I do think it would be an awesome fight regardless. It would make more sense to me to have them go at it if Hendo loses his next one.
Ak.Death - February 18, 2012
It'd be a good fight, but you have to remember there are fans. Fans of specific fighters. Like Henderson.
I’m not going say, you know what, I want my favorite football team to not have a bye in the playoffs. I’d rather watch them play one of the wild card teams. Hell no, I want Hendo to get his shot when he can get it.
James Brady - February 18, 2012
the only fight that seems to make sense is shogun vs hendo 2
although id like to see hendo challenge for that strap.
Who the hell is jones going to fight if he beats rashad and hendo? Never thought the LHW division would be sweeped so badly, one big shark cleared out the tank.
elmojo - February 18, 2012
+1
I would pay for the rematch.
cbrody111 - February 18, 2012
Totally disagree.
Hendo vs Shogun 2 shouldnt happen. There really isn’t any point at all. It won’t live up to the first one, it doesn’t help move the division in much of a meaningful way, and right now you can match up both Dan and Shogun as if they’re coming off wins. That doesnt happen often. Instead you have to kill off one of those if you have them fight again. I’d love Hendo/Machida sometime this summer and Shogun/Rampage II after Rampage fights Bader. Or you can have Hendo/Rampage II and have Shogun fight the Lil Nog vs Gustafsson winner. There are so many better fights than Shogun/Hendo II.
Tim Bernier - February 18, 2012 via mobile
Agree with all of this
I’ve no desire to see Shogun vs Hendo II. Given how few fights he likely has left in his career, Hendo should fight Rampage, Machida, Jones or Anderson.
wonderfulspam - February 18, 2012
Definitely
I wouldn’t mind if they did Dan vs the Gustafsson/Lil Nog winner (because he hasn’t fought the Nogueira brothers enough ;) ), but it’s not something I’d really like to do. I think Rampage or Machida are perfect fights because it’d be really difficult for him to sit until Anderson or Jon Jones is ready. I’m really giddy at the thought of a Hendo/Rampage rematch. There are just too many good fights to want to do a Shogun/Henderson rematch.
Tim Bernier - February 18, 2012
Machida needs some wins before hes facing #1 contenders…Only one hes been able to beat is old man Couture lately.
I’d like to see Rampage vs Hendo 2, and bring in Mousasi to face Machida.
Tats16 - February 18, 2012
Yes, Mousasi/Machida would be awesome. I honestly might take Gegard in that one. It’s a shame his ridiculous win streak had to end after getting Lnp’d by King roid while he busted him up from the bottom the whole time.
Ak.Death - February 18, 2012
He’s gonna have to take a fight against some top tier LHW, we know that much. If Jones wins and is injury free, Hendo would still have to wait until at least mid summer for a shot. I wanna see him vs the winner of Rampage/Bader or the winner of Gustafsson/Lil’ Nog. To be perfectly honest though, I think that Gustafsson, Lil’ Nog, and Rampage all would have a great shot at derailing Hendo at this point.
savik - February 18, 2012
"Henderson initially declined a rematch against Antonio Rodrigo Noguiera,"
Henderson turned down a fight with Little Nog, and it’s not I before E!
ryanthewizard1 - February 18, 2012
Like I said before, Machida has lost 3 out of his last 4. He shouldn’t be given the opportunity to fight a guy who is the next contender for Jones. If Machida wins, what the hell happens to the division? I don’t want Jones-Machida 2. I don’t really want to see Gustaffson fight Jones right now.
Jeffrey McCrum - February 18, 2012
If they do need a fight for Hendo, I would honestly be really hyped for Hendo vs. Munoz at franklinweight, with the winner getting a title shot in their respective division.
Jeffrey McCrum - February 18, 2012
If Machida were to beat Henderson, then what really is the point of Henderson-Jones anyway?
joker24 - February 18, 2012
Yeah, I don’t think Machida deserves it – I also don’t think it’s a very good idea ranking-wise. If Machida wins, who’s next in line for Jones/Rashad? Even w/ a win, neither Gustaffson or Lil’ Nog deserve the shot. I’d love to see Henderson/Mousasi but I doubt that’ll happen – Mousasi just signed a new contract w/ Strikeforce…he also doesn’t like to be tied down to one organization. The winner of Rampage/Bader is probably best bet for Henderson…unless Rashad or Jones get injured. Machida should be fighting someone like Bonnar or Franklin or Matyushenko. Shogun should fight Davis….etc…
gmwhimsy - February 18, 2012
Well, then I guess that this fight is in the works right now.
dancingChicken - February 18, 2012
Translation: “This fight is an insult”
Cunny - February 18, 2012
More like, that fight is way too much risk for the possible reward
Day Man - February 18, 2012
Jones vs Rashad is only 2 months away. WAIT HENDO, WAIT.
Kenya_MMA - February 18, 2012
This fight would be
RolloTomasi - February 18, 2012
Jardine-esque?
wonderfulspam - February 18, 2012
I feel like Machida would do well against Jones the second time around
Marko801 - February 18, 2012
I feel like
whaaaaa?
RolloTomasi - February 18, 2012
Actually
I agree. If machida had stayed on his bicycle a bit more he has a good style to beat jones.
Armleglegarm Head - February 18, 2012 via mobile
someone needs to make a promo poster for this fight
and many possible dream matches. Anyone out there with sweet grapics skills? A fun dream match is Rousimar Palhares vs Jon Jones! could Palhares break one of Jon Jones skinny legs and take the belt?
royale1 - February 19, 2012
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